RDU Volunteer Honored During National Volunteer Week

RDU Airport, NC – April 17-23 is National Volunteer Week and one volunteer ambassador at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will receive a special award for his work. The MetLife Foundation has chosen volunteer Jim Van Strien to receive one of its Community Champion Awards. Van Strien is one of 35 volunteer ambassadors at RDU who answers questions and provides assistance to arriving and departing passengers.

The MetLife Foundation has chosen Van Strien as an award recipient through its Older Volunteers Enrich America awards program. He is being honored for his drive and vision to create North Carolina's first airport-based USO club. Van Strien is known for his helpful spirit, commitment, dedication and compassion.

“It is my pleasure to accept this award as a tribute to the service men and women who give their all to defend our country,” said Jim Van Strien. “I am glad my efforts give them a place to rest and relax on their way to and from their assignments.”

The goal of RDU's Volunteer Ambassador program is to engage volunteers to provide customer service at the information desks in Terminals A and C and elsewhere throughout the terminals. RDU's Volunteer Ambassadors provide valuable assistance to both passengers and the “meeters and greeters” who accompany their friends and family to the airport.

In 2004, RDU volunteers donated 8,113 hours of time.

“RDU recognizes that these friendly faces are a crucial part of its success in meeting customer needs,” said Carmen Watson, RDU Airport Authority volunteer coordinator. “Jim's unique contribution was taking it upon himself to research, contact and work with the appropriate parties to create a ‘home away from home' for service personnel on their long layovers while awaiting transportation to base.”

National Volunteer Week began in 1974 when President Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration of volunteerism. Since then, every U.S. President has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week.

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